When we talk about flights and journeys, so much goes into planning and preparing for travel: packing your bags, booking tickets, dealing with hassles at the airport, reaching your destination once your purpose is fulfilled, and then returning to your abode as well.
However, as the adage goes, even the best-laid plans can go wrong. Your travel journeys are always susceptible to delayed flights, denied boarding, missed flights, flight cancellations, etc. These events ruin journeys and come with numerous roadblocks like filing flight delay compensation, constant tussling with the airline authorities, disrupted itineraries, and whatnot. This is where a flight tracker comes into play.
This blog will take you through what a flight tracker is, how you can track flights live, and how it can help you better prepare for your flight journeys. This blog has got you covered. Let’s dive in.
A flight tracker is a sophisticated system that allows you to monitor your airline's journey in real-time, from departure to arrival. These tools rely on numerous data sources, such as air traffic control systems, radar stations, GPS technology, and satellite feeds, to provide up-to-the-minute information about a flight's status.
You will find it vital to access a flight tracker, especially when you are in a certain travel crisis, such as expecting to catch a connecting flight on time, trying to find out the status of your airplane, or working out the reasons why your flight got delayed.
This is because a flight tracker unburdens you of flight uncertainties and takes the stress out of vulnerable situations. It will track your flight journey in real-time and make it super easy for you to plan your next step.
Additionally, when you want to receive your loved ones at the airport, tracking planes will help you get all the information necessary to make your pickup process seamless. For example, you would like to get all the details regarding departure time, gate changes, ETA changes, delay or cancellation updates, etc. The cherry on top - with the help of flight trackers, you can also find out critical airport and flight information on the go, as and when you need to access it, so you don't have to wait an eternity at airports' help desk navigating flight changes.
A flight tracker is a versatile tool that provides a detailed, real-time snapshot of air travel and delivers crucial data you need to gauge the status of your flight. Whether you are casually checking a flight or managing logistics for an airport, these trackers will make your journey much more transparent, accessible, and frictionless. Here's everything that a flight tracker can do for you.
A flight tracker gives you the real-time geographic position of an aircraft, usually shown on an interactive map. It uses data from radar stations, satellites, and GPS systems to pinpoint the aircraft's exact location, often down to precise latitude and longitude. The map interface also includes the direction in which your plane is heading. It will give you exact answers to "Where's my plane right now?" and give you a visual representation of the aircraft moving across the globe. This is especially helpful for those waiting at the airport or tracking long international flights.
Flight trackers allow you to track your airplane's movements and status anytime and anywhere. You can see if the flight is on time, delayed, in the air, or has landed. It may also show you when the aircraft is taxiing on the runway or waiting for clearance to take off.
Suppose you are meeting other travelers at the airport or flying by yourself. In that case, this feature is immensely important as it will help eliminate uncertainty about potential delays or changes in your flight schedule. Some flight trackers even notify users of significant changes via push notifications or emails.
The flight path shows the expected route that the plane should follow and the actual route it takes, which can differ due to air traffic, weather, or technical reasons. Some trackers display the historical route flown so far, along with the remaining path to the destination. This is especially valuable for flyers and airplane enthusiasts who like analyzing flight behavior, as well as for those whose job is to find out how weather or air traffic conditions will affect a flight. Sometimes, disruptions in flight paths, like sharp turns or holding patterns, show that a flight delay is caused by weather or congestion at the destination airport.
Tracking live flight gives you timely data on an aircraft's altitude and speed, often expressed in feet or meters for altitude and knots (nautical miles per hour) for speed. For instance, a commercial aircraft typically cruises at an altitude of around 35,000 feet and at speeds ranging from 450 to 550 knots. The tracker may also show the rate of ascent or descent, providing insights into when the plane is climbing after takeoff or preparing to land. This data is particularly reassuring if you are on a journey for critical reasons and will help you understand what's happening during various phases of the flight.
Tracking flights live will help you get both scheduled and actual departure and arrival times of your flight. This includes:
Apart from these basics, you will find flight trackers that offer advanced features like:
The make and model of the plane (e.g., Boeing 777, Airbus A320) which is often paired with technical specifications like seating capacity or range.
The unique identification number assigned to each aircraft is useful for aviation analysts and professionals.
Some flight trackers overlay weather data on the map, providing insights into turbulence, storm systems, or wind speeds that could impact the flight.
Details about the departure and destination airports, such as terminal gates, runway conditions, and ground delays.
Some platforms allow you to access past flight routes or see patterns in a specific flight over time, which can be helpful for research or tracking how often a particular route faces delays.
Flight tracking helps you stay informed about your flights, minimize hassles, and make better decisions, improving your overall travel experience and flight journeys.
Tracking live flights provides real-time updates on delays, schedule changes, or cancellations, allowing you to adjust your travel plans accordingly. Instead of waiting anxiously at the airport, you can monitor the flight status from your phone or computer and plan your journey based on your airline’s ETA (expected arrival time).
If you are supposed to pick up someone from the airport, flight tracking will help eliminate guesswork or long waits at the arrival gate. You can see the exact landing time and prepare to meet passengers at the right time, avoiding long waits at the airport. It also helps in planning transportation connections or meeting tight schedules with precise timing.
Flight trackers allow you to track multiple flights simultaneously, making managing connections between flights easier or monitoring weather disruptions that might impact travel. If you book connecting flights or coordinate with others, you will better understand timing and potential delays.
With flight tracking apps, you can get more than just location updates. They will also show gate numbers, terminal information, and baggage claim details that can improve your overall travel experience. You can check gate changes without walking to a display board or asking at an information desk.
When your flights get delayed or canceled due to weather or technical issues, real-time updates allow you to plan alternative arrangements. You can reschedule transport, change accommodation, or alert relevant people well before you arrive at the airport.
The flight goes beyond meeting passenger needs. Suppose you are waiting for vital cargo, packages, or documents to arrive via cargo plane. In that case, a flight tracker can provide accurate arrival times and notify you of any delays, allowing you to coordinate logistics better.
Flight trackers collect and process data from various sources to provide real-time information about the location and status of an aircraft. It includes data sources from:
These modern aircraft use ADS-B transponders that broadcast the plane's location, altitude, speed, and other data to ground-based receivers and satellites.
These are based on ground-based radar stations that monitor aircraft movements, especially during takeoff and landing.
It refers to air traffic control systems that track flights to ensure safe distances between aircraft and guide pilots during various flight phases.
Satellite-based systems track aircraft in remote or oceanic areas where ground-based radars may not reach
A flight tracker gathers data from airlines about scheduled flight times, delays, and other operational changes.
Here's how a flight tracker works:
One of the ways to track plane live or to track flights is by constantly checking the flight status on the website of the airline you are going to travel with.
The second way to track a flight live is to use live flight tracker apps. Innumerable apps on Android and iOS are dedicated to tracking flight status and airline updates.
If you are already traveling and want to track a connecting flight on the go, the best way is to download flight tracker apps and get everything related to your flight's whereabouts —if it’s delayed or canceled, how far it is, when it will land, which arrival gate, etc.
These flight tracking tools will help you save time and money and allow you to make plans while you have buffer time.
Here are the things you need to generate before tracking flights live:
A unique identifier for the flight (e.g., AA123), making it the easiest way to track.
City or airport codes (e.g., JFK for New York, LHR for London) help you find flights between specific locations.
The airline is operating the flight (e.g., American Airlines or AA).
Useful for tracking past or future flights.
A unique ID for enthusiasts tracking specific planes.
When tracking flights live, you may have several challenges:
Inaccurate Data: Flight tracking may have delays or inaccuracies, especially in remote areas or during flight changes.
Limited Coverage: Some regions need more radar or satellite coverage, making real-time tracking less reliable.
Last-Minute Changes: Unexpected changes like rerouting or cancellations may not be immediately reflected in the tracker.
Click2Refund simplifies the flight compensation process by automatically tracking your flight status and identifying any qualifying delays, cancellations, or disruptions. If your flight faces any issues, we will use flight tracking data to determine your eligibility for compensation under EU regulations (up to €600).
This means you don't need to monitor the flight constantly—Click2Refund does it for you. In case of disruptions, they handle the entire claim process, including legal action, ensuring you get compensation without hassle.
I hope this blog helps you understand live flight tracking in detail, learn how it works, and understand why you need it. Flight tracking plays a significant role, especially when you have to file a compensation claim for a canceled or delayed flight. Click2Refund helps by leveraging flight data to automatically identify any delays, cancellations, or disruptions and claim compensation for eligible flights without requiring constant monitoring on your part.
High Success Rate:
Airline companies often reject valid claims, but our expertise and persistence ensure a success rate of over 98%.
Hassle-Free Process:
Submit your details online and let us handle the rest.
No Cost Risk:
We operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, ensuring a risk-free experience for you.
Want to know how much airlines owe you for flight delays? Check out our flight delay compensation calculator in just two minutes. No obligations!